Fresh and modern Southwest style

Posted by Lauran

Last week, Jill was in Hayes Valley and stopped by Birch (one of our favorite SF florists). They had a book called Georgia O’Keeffe and Her Houses featured in the window display, and Jill was inspired to buy it.

The book includes some interior shots of O’Keeffe in her two homes, Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu (both in New Mexico). While paging through, we were struck by how much of these homes’ Southwestern decor is still on-trend today. In fact, we’ve been seeing a resurgence of the Southwest influence in interior design—but not like it appeared in the 1980’s. Today’s Southwest design is more fresh, clean and modern—just like O’Keeffe did it.

This photo shows O’Keeffe with her beloved dogs in the sitting room of her Abiquiu house in 1962. Note the white slipcovered furniture, the gray-and-white textile, and the Barwa lounge chair.

The image below, found recently via Guia Para Decorar, strikes a similar Southwestern note due to the colors, the rug, and—of course—the cactus.

In fact, cactus seems to have replaced echeveria as the succulent of choice among the design community.

The very hip and tasteful Social Studies boutique in Berkeley is also displaying a Southwest vibe right now, greeting customers with potted cactus and featuring a mini-adobe mission incense holder by the cash wrap.

The next shot shows O’Keeffe’s Abiquiu Dining Room via 1965. The raw plywood dining room table, wicker stools and Navajo rug could just as easily be found in a design aficionado’s home today.

And the Japanese lantern, Navajo rug, Eames chair, patterned textiles, baskets and pots in O’Keeffe’s Indian Room (circa 1965) still seem modern and fresh.

Here are photos of today’s version of Southwest interior style . . . pretty hard to tell the difference!